Al Aasy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mill Reef Test Headlines Saturday Bill

The furious intensity of last weekend's European action gears down a notch with the 50th renewal of Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. the main ingredient in Saturday's hangover cure. Ten juvenile colts are declared for the £75,000 six-furlong test won in recent years by subsequent top-level luminaries Excellent Art (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Lord Shanakill (Speightstown), Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This year's cast features Poseidon Thoroughbred Racing's Dhabab (Ire) (No Nay Never), who drops in trip after running third over seven furlongs behind subsequent G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the July 10 G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket. He had previously followed up a June 1 Leicester novice win with a close-up sixth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. a fortnight later. Opposition to the John and Thady Gosden trainee includes the Berkshire venue's Weatherbys Super Sprint victor Gubbass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), whose two latest starts for the Richard Hannon stable yielded a third in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. and a fifth in Deauville's G1 Prix Morny. Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing's Fearby (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) impressed when taking down Sandown's Listed Dragon S. by five lengths in July and has since run second in the July 28 G3 Molecomb S. at Goodwood and fourth in the Aug. 20 G2 Gimcrack S. at York. “This looked the next logical target after the Gimcrack,” explained trainer Ed Bethell. “We could have gone to France, but we thought we'd stick around in England. It's going to be a competitive race, as you'd imagine for a Group 2, but he's going there in good form after a little freshen up after York and I'm really looking forward to it. I would imagine he'd be one of the more fancied runners and he's in very good order.” Fearby was two spots and 1 1/4 lengths behind G2 Richmond S. sixth Gis A Sub (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in York's Gimcrack and the Kevin Ryan charge is another leading contender renewing old acquaintances. Other nominees of note include G2 Richmond S. runner-up Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) and G3 Sirenia S. placegetters Wings of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Elsewhere on the Newbury card, Shadwell's William Haggas trainee Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) returns from a gelding operation and is the star attraction in a five-runner renewal of the £70,000 G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (Arc Trial). The G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S. runner-up will be confronted by last month's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Foxes Tales (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), from the in-form Andrew Balding yard. Shadwell is also represented by Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the £70,000 G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy over an extended five furlongs.

Juvenile pattern-race action also features on Ayr's Gold Cup undercard with Ger Lyons's unbeaten Listed Curragh S. victrix Head Mistress (Ire) (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) putting her perfect record on the line against Jaber Abdullah's similarly undefeated Hala Hala Athmani (GB) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in the £40,000 G3 Firth of Clyde Fillies' S. over six furlongs. The latter, who posted an impressive 5 1/2-length tally at Carlisle last month, is a half-sister to G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin third Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}).

In Ireland, His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred 4-year-old filly Zawara (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes a swift comeback after registering a close-up fourth in last week's G3 Kilternan S. and is a leading contender for the €50,000 G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park. The 16-runner contest also features G2 Kilboy Estate S. runner-up April Showers (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Irish 1000 Guineas eighth Sense of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), last term's G3 Weld Park S. victrix Elysium (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) and 14-length juvenile maiden winner Cartouche (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her belated sophomore debut.

The post Mill Reef Test Headlines Saturday Bill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Moulin Likely Target For Baaeed

Shadwell's highly progressive 3-year-old Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is likely to be seen next in the G1 Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp on Sept. 5, trainer William Haggas told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast. Baaeed is unbeaten in four tries, having built on victories at the maiden and novice level with a four-length triumph in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. at Newmarket on July 8, and with a 6 1/2-length score in the G3 Thoroughbred S. at Glorious Goodwood three weeks later.

“We were very pleased with him [at Goodwood] and he proved he's worth a shot at a better race, I think,” said Haggas. “There's the [G1] Jacques le Marois [on Aug. 15], which I think is too quick, so it's the Moulin on Sept. 5 or the back-up is the [G2] Celebration Mile [at Goodwood on Aug. 28], but I really want to go for a Group 1 race with him now.

“We have to go to France, and that's complicated in its own way. If all goes well in Paris, then it's the [G1] QEII or nothing–if it's bottomless at Ascot he probably won't go.”

Haggas also provided an update on this season's G3 John Porter S. and G3 Aston Park S. victor Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was recently gelded after finishing second in the G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S.

“He's been at Shadwell, recovering from his castration, and he's been swimming,” Haggas said. “I feel if he can learn to swim, which apparently he's very proficient at, then if he does go to Dubai next March they have a 100-metre swimming pool in the quarantine centre he can use. He would be able to swim there rather than go on the track, which is quite firm.

Haggas said the 4-year-old could have targets even further afield.

“Things have got to be discussed, [but] he might go with Addeybb to Sydney to run in the Tancred S. [in April]. He could be quite useful in that sort of race.”

The post Moulin Likely Target For Baaeed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Al Aasy Set For Break; To Be Gelded

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will miss the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 24 and is set to be gelded, according to Racing Manager Angus Gold. The 4-year-old began his campaign with back-to-back Group 3 wins in the John Porter S. and Aston Park S. for trainer William Haggas, but settled for second in both the G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S. most recently.

“Al Aasy had every chance to go and win the race last week and you've got to take the rough with the smooth,” Gold said. “We're going to give him a bit of a break and we're probably going to geld him. We know he handles soft ground, so we'll give him a few weeks off and then bring him back in the autumn. The King George is definitely out.

“He's got plenty of talent, he's just a bit of a thug. Going out on the track, he makes it difficult for whoever is on board. Of course we could keep him entire and hope that he's going to make a stallion somewhere in due course, but it's more important for Sheikha Hissa and her family to have these horses to race now. This horse could win a lot of money in Dubai or Australia or wherever.”

The post Al Aasy Set For Break; To Be Gelded appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Addeybb To Stay In Eclipse

Despite his reputation as a soft-ground specialist, Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will run in Saturday's G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown whatever the underfoot conditions, trainer William Haggas said.

A triple Group 1 winner last year, Addeybb has not been seen since returning this spring from his latest stint in Australia, where he defended his title in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and finished second in the G1 Ranvet S., both times over ground drier than his preference. Addeybb romped in last year's G1 Champion S. over the heavy Ascot going.

“He's fine and he's ready to race. We've had this in mind since he got back from Australia so we're pleased to be there,” Haggas told Sky Sports Racing. “I'd be pretty loath to take him out because he needs to race. You can't keep practising on the [Newmarket] Heath and in the nets and not get out in the middle. He needs a run.”

The Eclipse has come under some criticism this week for its small field size, but Haggas said he think it will be an intriguing clash of the generations.

“Here you've got a really top-class speedier 3-year-old [St Mark's Basilica] who's won two Classics and won the Dewhurst last year, so he's obviously a very good horse. You've got Mishriff, who won a French Derby and really excelled in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and then our fella who keeps battling away and bashing away. He's as reliable a yardstick as you can get. If the ground came up soft, heavy in places, our chance would increase and maybe St Mark's Basilicia's wouldn't, so who knows what's going to happen.”

Haggas also provided an update on Shadwell's G3 Hampton Court S. winner Mohaafeth (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who goes next to the G2 York S. on July 24. Mohaafeth will be ridden by Dane O'Neill, with first-call stable jockey Jim Crowley required at Ascot for Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.

“We knocked the Eclipse on the head last weekend and he's going to go for the Sky Bet race at York on July 24, which is unfortunate for Jim, but good for Dane, because that's the same day as the King George,” Haggas said. “The horse that won the King Edward [Alenquer] is hopefully going for the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris on July 14, so we've got a busy few weeks coming up.”

The G1 Coronation S. runner-up Al Aasy has the option to warm up for the King George in next week's G2 Princess of Wales's S., but his trainer said it is likely he will head straight to Ascot.

“The King George is very much the plan. Whether he goes for the Princess of Wales's S., I'm not sure–I doubt it,” Haggas said. “He'll probably go straight for the King George. He worked beautifully again yesterday and is on target to go where we want him. We just have to decide whether going to Newmarket might take the edge off him for Ascot, which wouldn't be sensible. My gut feeling is he'll probably go straight to Ascot.”

The post Addeybb To Stay In Eclipse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post